Mountain Bluebirds in Yukon
When mountain bluebirds are present in Yukon, when they nest, which native Yukon plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1b yard.
- Status in Yukon
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1b
- Nest box
- 1 9/16 in hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 5–10 ft
When to expect mountain bluebirds in Yukon
Mountain Bluebirds are summer residents in Yukon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars.
Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.
Nesting in Yukon
Across Yukon, mountain bluebirds typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cavity or nest box. Females lay 4–8 eggs, incubate for 13–14 days, and young leave the nest after 17–21 days.
Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before May — mountain bluebirds begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 9/16 in entrance on a 5 × 5 in floor, mounted 5–10 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after July.
Native Yukon plants that attract mountain bluebirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 8 provide food or cover mountain bluebirds use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Feeding mountain bluebirds through the Yukon year
Nests at high elevations in open country; takes nest boxes on fence lines.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- In Yukon's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for mountain bluebirds · Best feeder for mountain bluebirds
Frequently asked
Are mountain bluebirds in Yukon year-round?
No. Mountain Bluebirds are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.
When do mountain bluebirds nest in Yukon?
Nesting in Yukon typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract mountain bluebirds in Yukon?
Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Western serviceberry, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for mountain bluebirds.
What size birdhouse hole do mountain bluebirds need?
1 9/16 in, with a floor of 5 × 5 in mounted 5–10 ft.
Mountain Bluebirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Yukon
Sources
- Mountain Bluebird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Bluebird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Bluebird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Yukon
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.